HUSH, HUSH was one of the most anticipated book of the year. It was very hyped up and received loads of 5 star reviews. Of course, that made me wary,HUSH, HUSH was one of the most anticipated book of the year. It was very hyped up and received loads of 5 star reviews. Of course, that made me wary, since it really couldn't be as amazing as everyone said. I was right. I really wanted to like it though since the storyline sounded interesting and deep down I hoped that it really was amazing.

WARNING: FEW SPOILERSPro's:

-Fitzpatrick succeeds in creating a dark atmosphere with her fluid writing-the fallen angel lore that is rarely found in YA lit

Con's:

-The characters were cliched, boring, and annoying. Nora, the main character, was very bland, idiotic, and couldn't make up her mind. There was nothing interesting about Nora. She had a hard time seeing the obvious, did dumb things (like dressing up as a hooker to get some answers from a bartender), and she kept deliberating between her decisions: should I do this or that? It was all very bothersome. Patch, the "bad boy" was the typical bad boy. He did everything a bad boy is supposed to do, so the only thing unique about him was his dark secret, which wasn't a secret to the reader, just to Nora the Naive.

-The plot was predictable and not well-thought out. Some of the book was based on coincidences; and it had the worst "bad guys" I've ever read about. They were very dumb at times even though they've been alive for centuries (or longer!). The author included the fallen angel lore but hardly explained how everything worked. It really raised a lot of questions and caused confusion. It took a long time for something interesting to happen and when it did, it was something that could have been seen a mile away.

-The romance was stalkerish-he-wanted-to-kill-you lust. Not love, but lust. Oh and loads of sexual tension. But that's it. It seemed like Patch was only interested in Nora's legs and getting her in bed. And Nora was only interested in Patch's bad boy vibe. There was nothing else other than physical attraction.

Overall, I would not recommend this book. Improvements could have been made regarding the characters, the plot, and the "romance". Don't let the gorgeous cover fool you, pick up something else instead. I was frustrated by how this book turned out....more

HEARTS AT STAKE is a chick-lit, fluff, candy read. There's nothing special about it and there's nothing memorable. It's just a book that provides a brHEARTS AT STAKE is a chick-lit, fluff, candy read. There's nothing special about it and there's nothing memorable. It's just a book that provides a brief distraction from the real life.

The two narrators were different from each other so I could tell whose chapter it was. Their voices were different and realistic. I liked Lucy's sassyness and that she would do anything for her best friend, Solange. And I liked that Solange, in turn, would do anything for Lucy.

The plot was unfortunately not that good. It was all over the place. The book had several sub-plots and the author took turns focusing on them.

1. The Solange-might-die-when-she-turns-subplot. It was mentioned sporadically.2. Solange-might-be-the-princess.3. The romance between Lucy and the other guy.4. The romance between Solange and the other guy (am not mentioning the guys so I won't spoil).5. Who-wants-to-kill-the-Drakes-subplot.

The author would mostly focus on one of the subplots on a chapter and a different one on the next. The info dumps would detract from the story and interrupt the flow. And there really wasn't anything new brought to the vampire genre.

Overall, don't expect this to be the next Vampire Academy series. This is just a teen paranormal chick-lit book. Meant to be a cute, fast read....more

Initiation was a boring take to an outsider's view of the rich teen's lifestyle. Since many books have been written over the topic, nothing new was adInitiation was a boring take to an outsider's view of the rich teen's lifestyle. Since many books have been written over the topic, nothing new was added to this one. The only thing original was that the main character, Mauricio, is half-Cuban and half-French.

Mauricio was a bland, cliched character. One who wants to be accepted by the rich kids but in the end comes to realize that they're so different from him and that it's not worth it trying to earn their approval. His creepy fascination with Elizabeth was, to me, odd and pointless. The narration was good since Mauricio, who at the beginning of the novel is ending his Senior year, tells the story of how he survived his Freshman year, letting the readers know what happened afterwards.

The plot moved at a slow pace, was boring and too overdone in some places. It was also predictable and...I don't want to say pointless, but I didn't see the whole point of the story. Sure, Susan Fine is a good writer but this book just didn't keep my attention. It's not a book that I would have finished, had I not been in a testing room with nothing else to read.

Overall: A bland and trite novel on an outsider's view of the wealthy student's lifestyle, Initiation is not a recommend read nor it is an enjoyable one...more

Lately it's rare to find such a remarkably well-written YA novel. With at the so-so written YA novels in shelves, ALL UNQUIET THINGS is sure to standLately it's rare to find such a remarkably well-written YA novel. With at the so-so written YA novels in shelves, ALL UNQUIET THINGS is sure to stand out.

The voices of the two main characters—Neily and Aubrey—are so strong and so realistically portrayed that I found myself reading their story well into the night. While their voices are a bit familiar that you need to check whose part it is, their narration really sucks you in. Their grief, frustrations, anger, and their other feelings just leapt off the page and felt so true.

I do read quite a few of mystery books that I can easily tell who the culprit is a few chapters into the story, but Jarzab kept me guessing and doubting myself. I just couldn’t believe the twist at the end! It was superbly well done.

The book does start a bit slow, but the story picks up a few chapters in. All the characters –even the secondary ones—were written in a way that it felt as if they could be someone you knew. Jarzab is so great at writing characters and plotting out a novel that I didn’t believe that this was her debut novel.

Overall, ALL UNQUIET THINGS is a book that I strongly recommend and that should be on everyone’s to-read list and one that I can’t stop gushing about. Jarzab has made be a fan of her works for life....more

There was just something about this book that kept me reading until 3 AM. At around 420-something pages, it took me about three and a half hours to reThere was just something about this book that kept me reading until 3 AM. At around 420-something pages, it took me about three and a half hours to read. I just simply couldn't put it down.

I've read many of Melissa de la Cruz's books and I've noticed that many her books have some of the same things : changing POV, a normal average girl thrown into a new world, and lots of drama.

I liked the rotation of POV between the three main characters: Devon, Livia, and Casey. It allowed me to get a feel for each girl and just let me understand the characters a bit better. I did feel that the author mentioned Livia's body issues too much; and I found myself skipping those parts when they were mentioned (in all of Livia's chapters).

Devon's struggle to remain sober added more authenticity to her character, but I found it odd that she didn't notice that her mom and Randall were just using her. I mean Devon's been in the business for many years and she still can't tell when she's being used? That was a bit odd.

And Casey was the stereotypical "normal" girl who gets to experience the rich and famous lifestyle. I was a bit annoyed that it took Casey a while to find out that her friend, Summer, had changed. But I did like the insight into assistant's jobs and the other set tidbits thrown in. Even though the characters were flawed, I still wanted to know what would happen to them.

Now onto the plot. It was predictable. I knew what was going to happen but I couldn't put it down. But Melissa de la Cruz's writing has improved and she can write some great summer reads! While the book is the cliched "Hollywood" book, it has heart. I am dying to know what happens next since the book ended in a cliffhanger (not a big one, but a cliffhanger nonetheless).

Overall: A great summer read perfect for that sunny, lazy day. And even though it's predictable and the character's are a bit flawed, it's a very good fluff read.

SOME GIRLS ARE takes mean girls to a whole new level. This was a dark, edgy, great sophomore novel from one of my favorite authors, Courtney Summers.SOME GIRLS ARE takes mean girls to a whole new level. This was a dark, edgy, great sophomore novel from one of my favorite authors, Courtney Summers. I was afraid that Ms. Summers would have been bitten by the sophomore slump and that SOME GIRLS ARE wouldn't be just as amazing as CRACKED UP TO BE, but I was wrong.

I cringed and was emotionally unstable as I read this book. The things that Regina went through were just so horrible, that I commended her for still being strong and fighting back. And Regina does fight back—she doesn't just take the violence. It was a very gritty book that left me exhausted.

At first I didn't like Regina because she was one of those girls. Those girls that we love to hate. But Ms. Summers has a knack for writing loveable mean characters. I don't know how she does it. Regina was a gray character—she did bad things but hated herself for them; she punished herself and sometimes thought that she deserved what she got.

The relationship between Regina and Michael was so sweet which contrasted with the dark tone of the novel. But their relationship wasn't picture perfect—they had problems, fought, and said some horrible things to eachother, but it was a realistic relationship.

Overall, SOME GIRLS ARE was a great follow-up to CRACKED UP TO BE. Dark, gritty, edgy, and just made of awesome; SOME GIRLS ARE is a new favorite of mine that I would recommend to anyone. This is in the top ten of my favorite books ever. A+...more

I didn't know much about this book before going in. I was both pleasantly surprised and a bit disappointed.

Immediately starting the novel we find outI didn't know much about this book before going in. I was both pleasantly surprised and a bit disappointed.

Immediately starting the novel we find out how tough's Stephanie life is. Her mother is abusive and her father lacks a backbone who can't do anything right for Stephanie; it leaves her feeling like she doesn't belong, like she's not wanted. This is where the author does a great job: she writes emotions and characters that shine.

The Californian teenagers were horrible and manipulative to outsiders: the typical mean teenagers. Stone's great portrayal of how terrible people can be to others who don't fit the mold, who look like they don't belong. In contrast was Amal. She was herself, sweet, and Southern--the one that complimented Stephanie.

Because the book is about Stephanie's journey, the plot is so slow that I had to put it down a couple of times. Plus, it felt like I've read this type of book before--and I have. And the ending was too open-ended; it was too abrupt and the ending did not meet my expectations.

Overall, Invisible Girl even though it was slow and gave me feelings of deja vu,

**spoiler alert** I know that this book is just for pure escapist fun, but there were a few things that I didn't like.

Tru wuv doesn't happen in three**spoiler alert** I know that this book is just for pure escapist fun, but there were a few things that I didn't like.

Tru wuv doesn't happen in three days. Whatever happened to slowly falling in love whilst you learn more about eachother and truly appreciating eachother's company? To not just meeting, feeling a connecting, have two things in common, and then declaring that they're oh, so right for eachother in the span of three days?

Some of the fighting scenes were a bit too hard to follow.

Other than that, the book was really cute and action-packed. I was glad to see the familiar Drakes once again. I like these type of books that follow the same family but just from different point of views.

The vampire legend--more specifically the Hounds--was expanded and in this book we got to learn more about them, their powers, and their legends. Looking forward to the rest of the Drake Chronicles.

This is yet another 'V' book. Yup. Max Turner does make it a bit different from the other YA 'V' books in the market. For one, Zack doesn't know what This is yet another 'V' book. Yup. Max Turner does make it a bit different from the other YA 'V' books in the market. For one, Zack doesn't know what he really is; he believes that he is just sick. Two, Zack's condition is a virus, a sickness. There's nothing magical about it; it's just scientific.Those two things made the book stand out a bit.

Zack was a very good character but he was a bit too naive. He had a hard time putting things together.He was two-dimensional at times which was not good because the book was in first-person point-of-view. Zack could have been a bit more fleshed out because he didn't feel like a character telling the story, but as the author attempting to create a character. The story from his POV made the fight scenes and his search for the truth much more interesting.

The book was plot driven. There were a lot of action-packed scenes that will hook male readers. Night Runner was also predictable and some scenes were jerky that they interrupted the flow of the story. With an ending that reveals that a sequel will be coming out, it makes Night Runner more like a prequel than the start of a series. It seemed as if Night Runner was just setting the stage for the real series to begin.

Overall, Night Runner could have used more work, but it was an okay start to a series. I recommend it to male teens who are looking for a quick, thrilling read....more

When Bliss’s hippie parents leave the commune and dump her at the home of her aloof grandmother in a stony Atlanta neighborhood, it’s like being set dWhen Bliss’s hippie parents leave the commune and dump her at the home of her aloof grandmother in a stony Atlanta neighborhood, it’s like being set down on an alien planet. The only guide naive Bliss has to her new environment is what she’s seen on The Andy Griffith Show. But Mayberry is poor preparation for Crestview Academy, an elite school where the tensions of the present and the dark secrets of the past threaten to simmer into violence. Openhearted Bliss desperately wants new friends, making her the perfect prey of a troubled girl whose obsession with a long-ago death puts Bliss, and anyone she’s kind to, in mortal danger.

Bliss (the main character), was very clueless and just expected the best of people (which is not necessarily bad). This does make her a likeable character, as well as a character who you want to shake some sense into. She noticed the clues to what was happening but decided to ignore them, so she did get on your nerves a bit. But at the same time you could relate to her and you liked her as a character.

The secondary characters were well-developed. The troubled girl in the summary was a bit creepy, but she did come off across as more of a psycho than creepy.

Now, as a fan for Darren Shan's novels and other similar books, I didn't find this book very creepy. I even read it at night to make it seem more creepy but I didn't get chills or get creeped out. But I still really liked this book.

The book was fast-paced and it really kept my attention. It was also very suspenseful. The facts of the Manson murders and the racial discrimination added in the book set the time of which the novel took place and made the story more enjoyable. The writing flowed well. The diary entries of S.L.L. and the quotes from the Andy Griffith Show made the story better.

Now the ending. I was disappointed by it. You never know what happens next (unless it's in the sequel Rhymes with Witches). It ended too suddenly and did leave some questions unanswered.

Overall, I recommend this book to people who aren't horror novel fans, people who don't mind sucky endings, and people who want a suspenseful read....more

I don't think I've read a book where the main character is and knows that she's a fairy, so this book was very surprising and very original.

OK, so theI don't think I've read a book where the main character is and knows that she's a fairy, so this book was very surprising and very original.

OK, so the book starts off a bit slow but if you hang in there, it will so pick up in the first few chapters.

Bryony (AKA 'Knife') was a spunky, strong, character who puts others before her. I don't think I found anything wrong with Knife. She is now one of my favorite characters. Knife was so well-developed and she never let anyone get in her way and she didn't give up. The world she inhabits and the way she acted was so interesting and just keeps you hooked. Her naive-ness towards the humans, her actions, her everything was just excellent.

The secondary characters were just as amazing, just as great. They each reminded me of humans, except for the fact that they were 5-7 inches high and that they were faeries, but still, the way that they acted towards each other and how they sometimes showed human emotions really made me care for the characters. I now have a sort-of attachment to them.

This book was really original and I liked the faery world that R.J. Anderson created and how different it is from other faery novels. Her writing was superb and I just loved it; I loved the imagery, Knife's voice, and the plot. Anderson really added a uniqueness to the faery world and she wrote a spell-binding novel.

Overall: I highly recommend and suggest that you buy a copy at your local bookstore. You do not want to miss out on reading this outstanding debut. I cannot wait for the sequel to be released! I just wished that the sequel would come out sooner.And my review does this book no justice....more